E 1450.8 T822g 2010 c.1
We are here today to honor an individual who has been more responsible for
the positive accomplishments in higher education than any other person in our
state. That person is Governor Brad Henry.
As we begin this New Year, it is important to take a look back at the past year
and review the important role Higher Education plays not only in our state, but
in the nation as well.
Last February, President Obama in his speech to a joint session of congress
said, "The answers to our problems don't lie beyond our reach. They exist in
our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the
imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth. Those
qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history
we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together,
confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more."
It is not coincidental that the President placed laboratories and universities first in his list,
because he knows as we do, that Higher Education is the engine that drives our economy.
Governor Henry knows this as well and has spent his two terms in office
as one of the best friends Higher Education has ever had in the
Governor's office.
In January 2003 in his first Inaugural speech, as the state faced another
financial crisis, Governor Henry said, "When we invest in education and
research it pays us back many times over. Even with inadequate
revenues, we can achieve much." He went on to say, "Now more than
ever, we must invest in education. Our future completely depends upon
it."
In the years that followed, Governor Henry worked to fulfill that vision.
Today you can't discuss the State of Higher Education without recognizing the progress we've
accomplished during "The Henry Years."
Today, we want to take a look back at the past eight years and to document Governor Henry's
Higher Education legacy.
The Year 2003
In 2003, as he settled into the Governor's office, the authority to set tuition at our colleges and
universities remained firmly rooted with the legislature.
In Governor Henry's 2003 State-of-State address he brought to the forefront the need to improve
the tuition setting process when he said, "It's time to deregulate and depoliticize the process of
setting tuition at our colleges and universities."
Governor Henry expressed his support for legislation that would give the State Regents the
authority to set tuition and on March 28, 2003, signed into law HB 1748 which allowed
Oklahoma to join the majority of other states across the nation which allows their State Regents
the authority to set tuition.
And his analysis was correct. Those who are closest to the issue are in a much better position to
make these critical decisions based on objective data and need based analysis.
As a result the State Regents' efforts in establishing tuition rates have helped our institutions
consistently stay within the tuition limits prescribed by the legislature in 2003.
The State Regents took it a step further and have made
affordability a major priority on our agenda. This slide
shows just how affordable Oklahoma's public colleges
and universities are compared to the rest of the nation.
Affordability
Average Total Cost of Attendance at 4-Year Public
Institutions of Higher Education - / ..•.
I . .:-,..~ ~iJt~
Unit.dStatH
$13,11
~
~rl-;.o:~:-na
I
I
While the cost of a college education has increased
throughout the country, Oklahoma ranks as the ih
most affordable State in the nation in terms of college
tuition and well below the national average in the
terms of total cost. (Oklahoma's total cost is $10,600,
the national average is $13,424.)
Governor Henry, thank you for your support in
making this critical decision on behalf of Oklahoma's students.
Also in 2003, Governor Henry challenged Higher Education to harness the energies of the
exceptional faculty and students in our colleges and universities to become a force for economic
development.
The Governor publicly stated that, "Our institutions of higher learning should provide more
leadership in coordinating research in support of both new and existing businesses and industry."
And the Higher Education community responded in many ways - especially through the
federally funded EPSCoR program - (Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research), whose central goal is to increase the state's research competitiveness
through collaborations, and integrated education and research programs.
In the past eight years, our institutions research efforts have focused on many areas including:
a. Cancer f. Infectious diseases
b. Diabetes g. Sensor Technology
c. Biofuels h. Plant biodiversity
d. Wind Power 1. Meteorology
e. Nanotechnology
And since 2002, our research budgets have increase 43
percent from external sources with a total funding for
our Oklahoma research projects reaching over $1.6
billion.
Thank you Governor for the challenge and for having
the confidence in us to know that we would work to not
only meet the research challenge, but to exceed it!
The Year 2004
In 2004 your focus continued to be on economic growth and the expansion and diversification of
opportunities through technology-based research and development, commercialization of
technology and entrepreneurial business efforts to create more high-paying jobs.
To assist in this effort Governor Henry created EDGE, (Economic Development Generating
Excellence), and in 2004 your action plan included a recommendation for the creation of the
EDGE Endowment as a catalyst to transform Oklahoma into
,klahom,,', -_. the "Research Capital of the Plains. "
Higher Education, working with Commerce Secretary Kathy
Taylor, who is also here today, and the Oklahoma
Department of Commerce, played a large part in the efforts to
formulate the plan which called for investments from the
endowment to be used to support applied research and hi-tech
commercialization which would lead to more technology-based
jobs in Oklahoma.
The Endowment received $150 million in 2006 and EDGE grants are now awarded annually on a
competitive basis.
Governor, thank you for enhancing our research capacities through the EDGE endowment.
The Year 2005
Governor Henry's 2005 State-of-the-State address reminded us that there is no better investment
which yields a higher return than the investment we make in Higher Education.
The Governor also said, "An educated workforce is the foundation of every community and the
future of every economy."
He recognized the fact that with record enrollments, Oklahoma's College and Universities were
quickly running out of classroom and laboratory space for our students.
Our institutions had seen such rapid growth in enrollment, and combined with several years of
budgetary cuts, our colleges and universities had facilities which were overcrowded, classrooms
which were outdated, obsolete equipment and deteriorating research labs.
In his State-of-the-State address, the Governor urged the legislature to join him in approving the
$475 million capital bond issue for Higher Education.
On Thursday, March 31, 2005, he signed into law the largest Higher Education capital bond
issue in the history of the State of Oklahoma.
Since 2005, the funds have been used to expand and
update labs, classrooms and to retrofit buildings with
more energy efficient heating and cooling systems.
We are here today to report that the 140 construction
projects were submitted by our 25 campuses and most of
those projects are completed or nearing completion.
The 2005 Higher Education Bond Issue would not have
happened without the Governor's leadership.
Thank you for providing that leadership.
Also in 2005, the Governor made a commitment to the Achieving Classroom Excellence
initiative or ACE. This significant initiative has helped match high school curriculum with
college entrance requirements to promote a more seamless and successful transition form high
school to college.
Specifically, the Governor was an advocate for paying the tuition of those high school students
participating in concurrent enrollment.
As we know, this innovative program provides high school juniors and seniors with the
opportunity to earn college credit while still in High School.
-- 1
As you can see from this chart, since its inception in the fall of 2005 the program has really taken
off.
• many student have 30 hours
before they set foot on a
college campus;
• it gets students in the pipeline
for a college degree; and
• it shortens the time for college degree completion.
As of 2009, over 50,068 credit hours
have been earned.
This includes over 6,997 unduplicated
students earning college credits and over
24,000 students cumulative since its
inception.
The benefits to our students are
significant:
Systelll Success
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT CREDIT HOURS
50,068
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
24
Governor, thank you for your efforts in making concurrent enrollment a great success story in
Oklahoma!
The Year 2006
In 2006, the Governor's economic efforts were showing significant progress. He had balanced
the budget and for the most part had shielded education from crippling budget cuts.
However, the Higher Education budget was still struggling after back-to-back-to-back years of
flat budgets.
In 2006, the Governor held firm in his support of Higher Education throughout the long budget
negotiations that extended into late June. He showed his willingness to take the legislature into a
special session to fund Higher Education.
In June he signed a budget agreement which included $131 million of new money for Higher
Education, the largest budget Higher Education had ever received!
These new monies allowed Higher Education to fund many new projects and to better match our
programs with the needs of business including:
• Our successful "Programs of Excellence" initiative which enabled our colleges and
universities to build new and innovative programs that meet the highest standards,
and which helps attract and graduate students who contribute to the state's prosperity.
• Increased funding by $4.6 million for the statewide nursing and allied health
initiative. Through this initiative, colleges and universities have helped to boost the
number of nurses and allied health professionals employed in our state and gave us
the opportunity to link our academic programs more closely with the stated needs of
business.
• We were able to fund our performance funding initiative, which is designed to
provide incentives to our institutions to increase retention and graduation rates.
Thank you Governor, for the record appropriation for Higher Education in 2006.
The Year 2007
In his 2007 State-of-the-State address he told us that we needed to capitalize on that momentum
of the past 100 years and then he proposed helping one of the country's signature college access
programs, Oklahoma's Promise by providing a permanent and dedicated funding source.
He knew that if we could get more students into this scholarship program we would produce
more college graduates in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's Promise OHLAP, or as we call it today, Oklahoma's Promise
was a successful program that pledged free tuition to
eligible students. • For 8th, 9th and
10th-grade students
• Family's income not in
excess of $50,000
• Students take college
prep courses
• Stay out of trouble
• Maintain 2.5 GPA
We all know the criteria:
• if you take a college prep curriculum,
• make good grades; and
• stay out of trouble, the State of Oklahoma
will pay for your college education.
We have also seen that, students who participate in Oklahoma's Promise are:
• more likely to graduate from high school; and
• go to college; and
• they are less likely to need remediation; and
• are more likely to earn a college degree.
At the end of the 2007 legislative session a significant milestone for the funding of Oklahoma's
Promise program was reached. In addition to providing $48 million for the costs of Oklahoma's
Promise scholarships during the 2007-08 year, Governor Henry worked with the legislature to
approve the permanent, dedicated funding source for the program.
Beginning in 2008-09, Oklahoma's Promise funding comes "off the top" from the state's
General Revenue Fund. This change ensured that the program would be fully funded each year
from a stable source of revenue.
This slide shows the progress made by the Oklahoma's Promise scholarship program since 2001.
• In 1999-00 the program had fewer than 1,300
students.
• It grew in 2001-02, to a little over 2,000
recipients.
• Last year it had over 18,000 recipients and we
project that by 2010 that number will top
19,000.
19,600
••••••••••••••••••••• ....-_--:::-::::=-"=9,00"'-0
19,00 - Oliahomo Promise 18,285
18, ~~~~~--
16,928
14670
Also in 2007, following the tragic slayings at Virginia
Tech University, Governor Henry set about to create the
CLASS Task Force to enhance campus security and safety at our college and CareerTech
campuses.
••••••• 2CJI»<012001-022002432003.042OO(.Q&2005-06200S.(I72OO1-082008.092009.,02010.,11
As he told me when he called to ask me to serve as chairman of the Task Force, "It is imperative
that our college campuses provide a safe environment for our students to learn and to live."
Since that time, Oklahoma's Higher Education and career technology institutions have made
great strides to ensure the safety and welfare of students, faculty and staff.
Within weeks of the tragedy, the University of Central Oklahoma, under the leadership of
President Roger Webb, held the first national seminar on campus safety after the Virginia Tech
tragedy, featuring the top experts in the field. CLISS Co-npos lrfe and Safety cod ~l.HIty Icsk force
~;I \f1~
Last July, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health
and Substance Abuse Services held the first mental health
train-the-trainer classes for Higher Education.
Notification systems have been implemented on our
campuses providing students, faculty and staff many
methods of notification including voice messaging, email
alerts and public address systems.
In the area of rapid response - Our campuses, with cooperation of law enforcement, have put
into action various rapid response plans which employ the use of crisis management teams and
other emergency response agencies.
And, the task force has set Dec. 1,2010 as the date for full compliance with National Incident
Management System. This system is considered the "gold standard" for security and safety for
public institutions.
And the Governor has been steadfast in his opposition to any legislation permitting the carrying
of concealed weapons on our college and university campuses.
Governor, thank you for making campus safety and security a top priority during your
administration.
As we looked toward 2008, few realized the economic crisis that would be looming in the fall.
In the Spring we were still filled with optimism about the future.
In the Spring of 2008, Governor Henry supported our efforts to fund a bond issue to clear the
endowed chairs program $260 million backlog.
The Year 2008
We all know that Oklahoma's endowed chairs
program is one of the most successful public/private
partnerships in the country.
Since the start of Governor Henry's administration in
2003, 150 endowed chairs and lectureships have been
fully funded; to date the endowed chair program has
914 accounts at 21 of our system campuses.
Endowed Chair Bond Issue
21 Institutions and Branch Campuses Participate Slatewid
914 ACcounts
<9 &,0
In 2008, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education initiated the Brad Henry International
Scholars program, named in honor of the Governor Henry whose vision it was to provide a
unique experience to Oklahoma students who wanted to study abroad.
This International study and internship program has provided talented students from Oklahoma's
regional universities the opportunity to spend a semester at Swansea University in Wales.
The State Regents provides a $10,000 stipend for students selected to participate in this
semester-long study or research program.
Brad Henry International_ Scholars
Swansea University
Pri 5go1 Abertawe
Academic credit for these programs will be
awarded by Oklahoma regional
universities.
Few other experiences in life will provide
such a positive and sustainable impact as
this life-changing experience.
Governor, thank you for your leadership in
providing this unique international study
program to our students.
• For every state appropriated dollar spent on Higher Education in Oklahoma an
additional $5.15 is pumped into the Oklahoma economy.
• In 2008 Oklahoma's system of Higher Education will produce over $3.2 billion in
growth in the state's gross domestic product;
• In 2008 Higher Education's capital and construction spending are expected to add
23,750 jobs to the Oklahoma economy;
• By the end of the next decade, Oklahoma's gross state product (GSP) will increase by
$26.292 billion through Higher Education's continued contribution to the economy.
System Successes
We've had many other successes in Higher Education throughout the Governor's term in office.
Economic Impact
We have said many times over the past several years that Higher Education is the engine that
drives the economy. This point is even more evident following an analysis conducted last year
by the Regional Economic Models Inc. which shows that the investment the state has made in
Higher Education has had a tremendous return.
This clearly demonstrates that Higher Education is the engine that drives the economy in
Oklahoma, and that funding Higher Education should not be viewed as an expense, but should be
viewed as the best investment the State can make in the future.
Preliminary Enrollment
It's obvious that the investment made in Higher Education will further enable us to build on our
current success including enrollment.
We recently announced that Oklahoma's public colleges and universities are experiencing an
increase in the number of students enrolled this fall.
•
• The Fall 2009 Preliminary Enrollment Report shows that the total headcount is up
10,291 more students than the fall of 2008, up 5.8 percent.
• The preliminary enrollment report reveals that the state's community colleges
experienced the largest percentage increase among the three tiers at 10 percent, or
6,961 students.
• Oklahoma's regional universities experienced an overall increase of 5 percent in total
headcount.
• The state's research universities saw an overall increase of 1.1 percent in total
headcount.
• Oklahoma's public colleges and universities have also seen the number of first-time
freshmen increase across the state system, by 12.3 percent.
• The state's regional universities and community colleges saw average increases of 9.1
and 19.7 percent, respectively, in first time freshmen.
• The research universities saw a 0.5 percent increase in first-time freshman.
Enrollment
We have also seen record increases in enrollment throughout the past several years.
"Ok/ahoma Is now nmked in the Top 10 nalionally In the
~rrtage of students enrolled in publk h/gfrereducllflon."
• From 1995 to 2009 our system has
experienced a nearly 10 percent increase in
enrollment.
Most of that growth occurred during the early""""
2000' s. ,."'.--------....~=----==-
Our current projections are that we will see a
leveling out of these numbers leaving us at or "'•.•
near our record levels of the next few years.
Oklahoma is now ranked in the Top 10
nationally in the percentage of student
enrolled in public Higher Education. We've moved from 14thto io" since 2001.
Enrollment
anrcnrnent m Oklahoma Public Colleges and umversntes Nine Year Trend
•
•
210,000
•
Degrees Conferred
In 2007-08, State System
institutions awarded a lotal of
23,974 associate and bachelor's
degrees - the most ewerdod in ill ~8
single yeM in state history
23,689
One of our most important indicators of our
success is reflected in the number of degrees
conferred, which has increased since 2001 at the
associate and bachelor's degree level.
A total of 4,953 additional degrees have been
awarded across the State System, awarding a total
of 23,974 associate and bachelor's degrees in
2007 -08, the most awarded in a single year in state
1,811 history.
Ttus IS 26 percent more degrees
awarded than In 2000-2001
'000'" '00'.02 '002-03 '003'" ,...... ,...... '006.•7 2007... • Up a total of more than 26 percent.
• Oklahoma is only one of 12 states
nationally to increase the percent of adults with bachelors degrees.
• By the end of your two terms in office, over 180,000 students will have received their
associates and bachelors degrees.
This is truly a living legacy of the "Henry Years."
The Year 2009
Last year before the legislative session started, before the economic downturn became apparent,
the State Regents and the Council of Presidents recognized the approaching economic storm
clouds and agreed that the most important contribution we could make to Oklahoma students was
to make ever effort to hold tuition costs down with a tuition freeze, if adequate appropriations
were made to Higher Education.
With significant help from Governor and the Legislature all 25 college and universities, we were
able to fulfill the promise for a tuition freeze.
In 2009, Higher Education, with help of the stimulus
funding, received a 3 percent increase in funding
when every other entity in State government took a 7
percent cut.
This 3 percent funding increase for Higher
Education would not have happened without
Governor Brad Henry's decisiveness.
The Governor made Higher Education's
participation in the federal stimulus package a top
priority.
• In fact, Oklahoma received 31 percent of the Education Stabilization Funds;
• The national average was 20.7 percent;
• Eleven states received a higher percentage than Oklahoma;
• Four of those used all their funds in FY'09 or FY' 10 and have no funds left for FY' 11
• The remaining 7 states have significant funds left.
And of course this decision laid the ground work for our 3 percent budget increase last year and
the subsequent tuition freeze.
Governor, thank you for underscoring the role Higher
Education plays through the stimulus bill in creating jobs and
retaining jobs in the State of Oklahoma.
In closing I want to say that Gubernatorial terms are often
measured in terms of a lasting legacy.
We would submit that after reviewing today's information,
future observers can rightly view these last eight years as the
"golden years for Higher Education."
And I can also make a case that there will be many achievements in a variety of areas attributed
to the Governor Brad Henry's two terms as Governor, but at the centerpiece of his legacy will be
his enduring commitment to the betterment of Higher Education and to the futures of thousands
of our students in the State of Oklahoma.
And now, we are here to honor Governor Brad Henry for his distinguished service in support of
Higher Education throughout the last legislative session, but in essence we are here to honor him
for all he has done during his career in public service.
Governor, would you, Chairman Price and President
McKeon join me on stage.
Therefore, Governor Henry, on behalf of the State
Regents, the Council of Presidents, it is an honor to
present you with the 2009 Distinguished Service
Award.
Governor Henry, we want to again thank you for
your support of Higher Education and we look
forward to the 2010 legislative session and your
continued support as we face the many challenges
ahead.
Please join me again in thanking Governor Brad Henry!
Presented by Chancellor Glen D. Johnson
on January 12,2010 at the Oklahoma Heritage Association

Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.

E 1450.8 T822g 2010 c.1
We are here today to honor an individual who has been more responsible for
the positive accomplishments in higher education than any other person in our
state. That person is Governor Brad Henry.
As we begin this New Year, it is important to take a look back at the past year
and review the important role Higher Education plays not only in our state, but
in the nation as well.
Last February, President Obama in his speech to a joint session of congress
said, "The answers to our problems don't lie beyond our reach. They exist in
our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the
imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth. Those
qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history
we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together,
confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more."
It is not coincidental that the President placed laboratories and universities first in his list,
because he knows as we do, that Higher Education is the engine that drives our economy.
Governor Henry knows this as well and has spent his two terms in office
as one of the best friends Higher Education has ever had in the
Governor's office.
In January 2003 in his first Inaugural speech, as the state faced another
financial crisis, Governor Henry said, "When we invest in education and
research it pays us back many times over. Even with inadequate
revenues, we can achieve much." He went on to say, "Now more than
ever, we must invest in education. Our future completely depends upon
it."
In the years that followed, Governor Henry worked to fulfill that vision.
Today you can't discuss the State of Higher Education without recognizing the progress we've
accomplished during "The Henry Years."
Today, we want to take a look back at the past eight years and to document Governor Henry's
Higher Education legacy.
The Year 2003
In 2003, as he settled into the Governor's office, the authority to set tuition at our colleges and
universities remained firmly rooted with the legislature.
In Governor Henry's 2003 State-of-State address he brought to the forefront the need to improve
the tuition setting process when he said, "It's time to deregulate and depoliticize the process of
setting tuition at our colleges and universities."
Governor Henry expressed his support for legislation that would give the State Regents the
authority to set tuition and on March 28, 2003, signed into law HB 1748 which allowed
Oklahoma to join the majority of other states across the nation which allows their State Regents
the authority to set tuition.
And his analysis was correct. Those who are closest to the issue are in a much better position to
make these critical decisions based on objective data and need based analysis.
As a result the State Regents' efforts in establishing tuition rates have helped our institutions
consistently stay within the tuition limits prescribed by the legislature in 2003.
The State Regents took it a step further and have made
affordability a major priority on our agenda. This slide
shows just how affordable Oklahoma's public colleges
and universities are compared to the rest of the nation.
Affordability
Average Total Cost of Attendance at 4-Year Public
Institutions of Higher Education - / ..•.
I . .:-,..~ ~iJt~
Unit.dStatH
$13,11
~
~rl-;.o:~:-na
I
I
While the cost of a college education has increased
throughout the country, Oklahoma ranks as the ih
most affordable State in the nation in terms of college
tuition and well below the national average in the
terms of total cost. (Oklahoma's total cost is $10,600,
the national average is $13,424.)
Governor Henry, thank you for your support in
making this critical decision on behalf of Oklahoma's students.
Also in 2003, Governor Henry challenged Higher Education to harness the energies of the
exceptional faculty and students in our colleges and universities to become a force for economic
development.
The Governor publicly stated that, "Our institutions of higher learning should provide more
leadership in coordinating research in support of both new and existing businesses and industry."
And the Higher Education community responded in many ways - especially through the
federally funded EPSCoR program - (Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research), whose central goal is to increase the state's research competitiveness
through collaborations, and integrated education and research programs.
In the past eight years, our institutions research efforts have focused on many areas including:
a. Cancer f. Infectious diseases
b. Diabetes g. Sensor Technology
c. Biofuels h. Plant biodiversity
d. Wind Power 1. Meteorology
e. Nanotechnology
And since 2002, our research budgets have increase 43
percent from external sources with a total funding for
our Oklahoma research projects reaching over $1.6
billion.
Thank you Governor for the challenge and for having
the confidence in us to know that we would work to not
only meet the research challenge, but to exceed it!
The Year 2004
In 2004 your focus continued to be on economic growth and the expansion and diversification of
opportunities through technology-based research and development, commercialization of
technology and entrepreneurial business efforts to create more high-paying jobs.
To assist in this effort Governor Henry created EDGE, (Economic Development Generating
Excellence), and in 2004 your action plan included a recommendation for the creation of the
EDGE Endowment as a catalyst to transform Oklahoma into
,klahom,,', -_. the "Research Capital of the Plains. "
Higher Education, working with Commerce Secretary Kathy
Taylor, who is also here today, and the Oklahoma
Department of Commerce, played a large part in the efforts to
formulate the plan which called for investments from the
endowment to be used to support applied research and hi-tech
commercialization which would lead to more technology-based
jobs in Oklahoma.
The Endowment received $150 million in 2006 and EDGE grants are now awarded annually on a
competitive basis.
Governor, thank you for enhancing our research capacities through the EDGE endowment.
The Year 2005
Governor Henry's 2005 State-of-the-State address reminded us that there is no better investment
which yields a higher return than the investment we make in Higher Education.
The Governor also said, "An educated workforce is the foundation of every community and the
future of every economy."
He recognized the fact that with record enrollments, Oklahoma's College and Universities were
quickly running out of classroom and laboratory space for our students.
Our institutions had seen such rapid growth in enrollment, and combined with several years of
budgetary cuts, our colleges and universities had facilities which were overcrowded, classrooms
which were outdated, obsolete equipment and deteriorating research labs.
In his State-of-the-State address, the Governor urged the legislature to join him in approving the
$475 million capital bond issue for Higher Education.
On Thursday, March 31, 2005, he signed into law the largest Higher Education capital bond
issue in the history of the State of Oklahoma.
Since 2005, the funds have been used to expand and
update labs, classrooms and to retrofit buildings with
more energy efficient heating and cooling systems.
We are here today to report that the 140 construction
projects were submitted by our 25 campuses and most of
those projects are completed or nearing completion.
The 2005 Higher Education Bond Issue would not have
happened without the Governor's leadership.
Thank you for providing that leadership.
Also in 2005, the Governor made a commitment to the Achieving Classroom Excellence
initiative or ACE. This significant initiative has helped match high school curriculum with
college entrance requirements to promote a more seamless and successful transition form high
school to college.
Specifically, the Governor was an advocate for paying the tuition of those high school students
participating in concurrent enrollment.
As we know, this innovative program provides high school juniors and seniors with the
opportunity to earn college credit while still in High School.
-- 1
As you can see from this chart, since its inception in the fall of 2005 the program has really taken
off.
• many student have 30 hours
before they set foot on a
college campus;
• it gets students in the pipeline
for a college degree; and
• it shortens the time for college degree completion.
As of 2009, over 50,068 credit hours
have been earned.
This includes over 6,997 unduplicated
students earning college credits and over
24,000 students cumulative since its
inception.
The benefits to our students are
significant:
Systelll Success
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT CREDIT HOURS
50,068
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
24
Governor, thank you for your efforts in making concurrent enrollment a great success story in
Oklahoma!
The Year 2006
In 2006, the Governor's economic efforts were showing significant progress. He had balanced
the budget and for the most part had shielded education from crippling budget cuts.
However, the Higher Education budget was still struggling after back-to-back-to-back years of
flat budgets.
In 2006, the Governor held firm in his support of Higher Education throughout the long budget
negotiations that extended into late June. He showed his willingness to take the legislature into a
special session to fund Higher Education.
In June he signed a budget agreement which included $131 million of new money for Higher
Education, the largest budget Higher Education had ever received!
These new monies allowed Higher Education to fund many new projects and to better match our
programs with the needs of business including:
• Our successful "Programs of Excellence" initiative which enabled our colleges and
universities to build new and innovative programs that meet the highest standards,
and which helps attract and graduate students who contribute to the state's prosperity.
• Increased funding by $4.6 million for the statewide nursing and allied health
initiative. Through this initiative, colleges and universities have helped to boost the
number of nurses and allied health professionals employed in our state and gave us
the opportunity to link our academic programs more closely with the stated needs of
business.
• We were able to fund our performance funding initiative, which is designed to
provide incentives to our institutions to increase retention and graduation rates.
Thank you Governor, for the record appropriation for Higher Education in 2006.
The Year 2007
In his 2007 State-of-the-State address he told us that we needed to capitalize on that momentum
of the past 100 years and then he proposed helping one of the country's signature college access
programs, Oklahoma's Promise by providing a permanent and dedicated funding source.
He knew that if we could get more students into this scholarship program we would produce
more college graduates in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's Promise OHLAP, or as we call it today, Oklahoma's Promise
was a successful program that pledged free tuition to
eligible students. • For 8th, 9th and
10th-grade students
• Family's income not in
excess of $50,000
• Students take college
prep courses
• Stay out of trouble
• Maintain 2.5 GPA
We all know the criteria:
• if you take a college prep curriculum,
• make good grades; and
• stay out of trouble, the State of Oklahoma
will pay for your college education.
We have also seen that, students who participate in Oklahoma's Promise are:
• more likely to graduate from high school; and
• go to college; and
• they are less likely to need remediation; and
• are more likely to earn a college degree.
At the end of the 2007 legislative session a significant milestone for the funding of Oklahoma's
Promise program was reached. In addition to providing $48 million for the costs of Oklahoma's
Promise scholarships during the 2007-08 year, Governor Henry worked with the legislature to
approve the permanent, dedicated funding source for the program.
Beginning in 2008-09, Oklahoma's Promise funding comes "off the top" from the state's
General Revenue Fund. This change ensured that the program would be fully funded each year
from a stable source of revenue.
This slide shows the progress made by the Oklahoma's Promise scholarship program since 2001.
• In 1999-00 the program had fewer than 1,300
students.
• It grew in 2001-02, to a little over 2,000
recipients.
• Last year it had over 18,000 recipients and we
project that by 2010 that number will top
19,000.
19,600
••••••••••••••••••••• ....-_--:::-::::=-"=9,00"'-0
19,00 - Oliahomo Promise 18,285
18, ~~~~~--
16,928
14670
Also in 2007, following the tragic slayings at Virginia
Tech University, Governor Henry set about to create the
CLASS Task Force to enhance campus security and safety at our college and CareerTech
campuses.
••••••• 2CJI»<012001-022002432003.042OO(.Q&2005-06200S.(I72OO1-082008.092009.,02010.,11
As he told me when he called to ask me to serve as chairman of the Task Force, "It is imperative
that our college campuses provide a safe environment for our students to learn and to live."
Since that time, Oklahoma's Higher Education and career technology institutions have made
great strides to ensure the safety and welfare of students, faculty and staff.
Within weeks of the tragedy, the University of Central Oklahoma, under the leadership of
President Roger Webb, held the first national seminar on campus safety after the Virginia Tech
tragedy, featuring the top experts in the field. CLISS Co-npos lrfe and Safety cod ~l.HIty Icsk force
~;I \f1~
Last July, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health
and Substance Abuse Services held the first mental health
train-the-trainer classes for Higher Education.
Notification systems have been implemented on our
campuses providing students, faculty and staff many
methods of notification including voice messaging, email
alerts and public address systems.
In the area of rapid response - Our campuses, with cooperation of law enforcement, have put
into action various rapid response plans which employ the use of crisis management teams and
other emergency response agencies.
And, the task force has set Dec. 1,2010 as the date for full compliance with National Incident
Management System. This system is considered the "gold standard" for security and safety for
public institutions.
And the Governor has been steadfast in his opposition to any legislation permitting the carrying
of concealed weapons on our college and university campuses.
Governor, thank you for making campus safety and security a top priority during your
administration.
As we looked toward 2008, few realized the economic crisis that would be looming in the fall.
In the Spring we were still filled with optimism about the future.
In the Spring of 2008, Governor Henry supported our efforts to fund a bond issue to clear the
endowed chairs program $260 million backlog.
The Year 2008
We all know that Oklahoma's endowed chairs
program is one of the most successful public/private
partnerships in the country.
Since the start of Governor Henry's administration in
2003, 150 endowed chairs and lectureships have been
fully funded; to date the endowed chair program has
914 accounts at 21 of our system campuses.
Endowed Chair Bond Issue
21 Institutions and Branch Campuses Participate Slatewid
914 ACcounts
<9 &,0
In 2008, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education initiated the Brad Henry International
Scholars program, named in honor of the Governor Henry whose vision it was to provide a
unique experience to Oklahoma students who wanted to study abroad.
This International study and internship program has provided talented students from Oklahoma's
regional universities the opportunity to spend a semester at Swansea University in Wales.
The State Regents provides a $10,000 stipend for students selected to participate in this
semester-long study or research program.
Brad Henry International_ Scholars
Swansea University
Pri 5go1 Abertawe
Academic credit for these programs will be
awarded by Oklahoma regional
universities.
Few other experiences in life will provide
such a positive and sustainable impact as
this life-changing experience.
Governor, thank you for your leadership in
providing this unique international study
program to our students.
• For every state appropriated dollar spent on Higher Education in Oklahoma an
additional $5.15 is pumped into the Oklahoma economy.
• In 2008 Oklahoma's system of Higher Education will produce over $3.2 billion in
growth in the state's gross domestic product;
• In 2008 Higher Education's capital and construction spending are expected to add
23,750 jobs to the Oklahoma economy;
• By the end of the next decade, Oklahoma's gross state product (GSP) will increase by
$26.292 billion through Higher Education's continued contribution to the economy.
System Successes
We've had many other successes in Higher Education throughout the Governor's term in office.
Economic Impact
We have said many times over the past several years that Higher Education is the engine that
drives the economy. This point is even more evident following an analysis conducted last year
by the Regional Economic Models Inc. which shows that the investment the state has made in
Higher Education has had a tremendous return.
This clearly demonstrates that Higher Education is the engine that drives the economy in
Oklahoma, and that funding Higher Education should not be viewed as an expense, but should be
viewed as the best investment the State can make in the future.
Preliminary Enrollment
It's obvious that the investment made in Higher Education will further enable us to build on our
current success including enrollment.
We recently announced that Oklahoma's public colleges and universities are experiencing an
increase in the number of students enrolled this fall.
•
• The Fall 2009 Preliminary Enrollment Report shows that the total headcount is up
10,291 more students than the fall of 2008, up 5.8 percent.
• The preliminary enrollment report reveals that the state's community colleges
experienced the largest percentage increase among the three tiers at 10 percent, or
6,961 students.
• Oklahoma's regional universities experienced an overall increase of 5 percent in total
headcount.
• The state's research universities saw an overall increase of 1.1 percent in total
headcount.
• Oklahoma's public colleges and universities have also seen the number of first-time
freshmen increase across the state system, by 12.3 percent.
• The state's regional universities and community colleges saw average increases of 9.1
and 19.7 percent, respectively, in first time freshmen.
• The research universities saw a 0.5 percent increase in first-time freshman.
Enrollment
We have also seen record increases in enrollment throughout the past several years.
"Ok/ahoma Is now nmked in the Top 10 nalionally In the
~rrtage of students enrolled in publk h/gfrereducllflon."
• From 1995 to 2009 our system has
experienced a nearly 10 percent increase in
enrollment.
Most of that growth occurred during the early""""
2000' s. ,."'.--------....~=----==-
Our current projections are that we will see a
leveling out of these numbers leaving us at or "'•.•
near our record levels of the next few years.
Oklahoma is now ranked in the Top 10
nationally in the percentage of student
enrolled in public Higher Education. We've moved from 14thto io" since 2001.
Enrollment
anrcnrnent m Oklahoma Public Colleges and umversntes Nine Year Trend
•
•
210,000
•
Degrees Conferred
In 2007-08, State System
institutions awarded a lotal of
23,974 associate and bachelor's
degrees - the most ewerdod in ill ~8
single yeM in state history
23,689
One of our most important indicators of our
success is reflected in the number of degrees
conferred, which has increased since 2001 at the
associate and bachelor's degree level.
A total of 4,953 additional degrees have been
awarded across the State System, awarding a total
of 23,974 associate and bachelor's degrees in
2007 -08, the most awarded in a single year in state
1,811 history.
Ttus IS 26 percent more degrees
awarded than In 2000-2001
'000'" '00'.02 '002-03 '003'" ,...... ,...... '006.•7 2007... • Up a total of more than 26 percent.
• Oklahoma is only one of 12 states
nationally to increase the percent of adults with bachelors degrees.
• By the end of your two terms in office, over 180,000 students will have received their
associates and bachelors degrees.
This is truly a living legacy of the "Henry Years."
The Year 2009
Last year before the legislative session started, before the economic downturn became apparent,
the State Regents and the Council of Presidents recognized the approaching economic storm
clouds and agreed that the most important contribution we could make to Oklahoma students was
to make ever effort to hold tuition costs down with a tuition freeze, if adequate appropriations
were made to Higher Education.
With significant help from Governor and the Legislature all 25 college and universities, we were
able to fulfill the promise for a tuition freeze.
In 2009, Higher Education, with help of the stimulus
funding, received a 3 percent increase in funding
when every other entity in State government took a 7
percent cut.
This 3 percent funding increase for Higher
Education would not have happened without
Governor Brad Henry's decisiveness.
The Governor made Higher Education's
participation in the federal stimulus package a top
priority.
• In fact, Oklahoma received 31 percent of the Education Stabilization Funds;
• The national average was 20.7 percent;
• Eleven states received a higher percentage than Oklahoma;
• Four of those used all their funds in FY'09 or FY' 10 and have no funds left for FY' 11
• The remaining 7 states have significant funds left.
And of course this decision laid the ground work for our 3 percent budget increase last year and
the subsequent tuition freeze.
Governor, thank you for underscoring the role Higher
Education plays through the stimulus bill in creating jobs and
retaining jobs in the State of Oklahoma.
In closing I want to say that Gubernatorial terms are often
measured in terms of a lasting legacy.
We would submit that after reviewing today's information,
future observers can rightly view these last eight years as the
"golden years for Higher Education."
And I can also make a case that there will be many achievements in a variety of areas attributed
to the Governor Brad Henry's two terms as Governor, but at the centerpiece of his legacy will be
his enduring commitment to the betterment of Higher Education and to the futures of thousands
of our students in the State of Oklahoma.
And now, we are here to honor Governor Brad Henry for his distinguished service in support of
Higher Education throughout the last legislative session, but in essence we are here to honor him
for all he has done during his career in public service.
Governor, would you, Chairman Price and President
McKeon join me on stage.
Therefore, Governor Henry, on behalf of the State
Regents, the Council of Presidents, it is an honor to
present you with the 2009 Distinguished Service
Award.
Governor Henry, we want to again thank you for
your support of Higher Education and we look
forward to the 2010 legislative session and your
continued support as we face the many challenges
ahead.
Please join me again in thanking Governor Brad Henry!
Presented by Chancellor Glen D. Johnson
on January 12,2010 at the Oklahoma Heritage Association